THE FRESNAN

Music Box Fresno: It's An Icicle is NOT a band

The word has come down through several MySpace bulletins (yes, we're the ones that are still on MySpace) that Tuesday night at Starline is It's An Icicle's last venue show together. This news comes as suck to us. We have always liked this little indie rock band and found them to have great potential.

If this is true, they shall be missed. One more chance to see them:

Music Box Fresno: Fashawn Video Voting

Fresno's own Fashawn continues to build momentum for his big album release "Boy Meets World" in September. Checkout the current contest he's involved in and do some texting, right after you watch his video "Sunny Day In CA":

Music Box Fresno: Another Music Venue, Gives

Earlier this year, we had the closing of The Exit (oh and we guess Cabo Wabo kinda counts too), now another one locks up for good: The Crossroads. Fresno Bee reporter Tim Sheehan brought everyone the news of the bar's closing from owner Robert Pierce and his reasons for close:

"It just got to the point that the level of work, the amount of money that we needed to continue to invest, the amount of support that we saw continuing for live music ... just didn't make financial sense for us... So we closed to concentrate on our other business."

Pierce goes on to say:

[The recession made people] "afraid to spend the kind of money they had over the last couple of years... For shows that we were getting 200-300 people for, we were getting 70-80. It made it tough to continue to bring in national and regional acts. We just didn't have the support for it."

All is not lost though. The Babylon seems to be stepping in to take some of Crossroad's business as they are welcoming the Central Valley Blues Society - a staple at Crossroads.

Music Box Fresno: Dry Christian Venue Edition

With all the interesting venue talk, thought we should keep the momentum going and throw something else in the mix: KuppaJoe's isn't all that bad. Not as bad as its rep, anyway.

Sure, for drunks like us, it's tough hanging out somewhere you can't get a beer. And yes, it's kinda smallish and the only place to sit is on the patio (which is great on a nice night). Oh and the bands have to watch their language when onstage, but it's fine. It's pure. You just go to listen to bands and worry about getting an adult beverage later.

That being said, we were there on Friday night and caught Fay Wrays bass player P.A. Harper playing a solo set with fellow Fay Wray-er, Eli Reyes. Video proof:

There is a great show happening Friday night, so you can try the place out yourself:

 

Fashawn Impressing Non Fresnans

For some time we've been blogging-at-the-bit, waiting to truly say a Fresno music artist has "made it." Well, we may only have to wait until September (no jinxy, no jinxy, no jinxy) because that's when Fashawn's new album "Boy Meets World" drops (September 1st). There's that and Fashawn is playing some dates on the Rock The Bells tour with Evidence and Alchemist.

That, is a pretty damn big tour.

Fashawn was in LA recently, giving Los Angelsans... angelsians... anglos... So Cal people, a preview of Boy Meets World. Video evidence:

Music Box Fresno: Where in the world is Radagun?

 

If you've been following Fresno's internets or get out to local shows, you may already know about the band Radagun. They came up in the Fresno scene very quickly and have a very polished look and sound that's ready for radio.

Well, they have moved to Florida - at least the two core members, Aimee Ortiz and Todd Low, have. What the hell, guys? What's this all about? (Is what we asked.) No, seriously, we did some actual reporting of sorts and asked lead singer and guitarist, Aimee, what was up:

So, why the move?
Aimee: We had been talking about moving for a while, and recently there have been some opportunities for the band that have opened up on the east coast so we figured why not just go for it?  It's pretty much a leap of faith, and hopefully it will all pan out well.

 

Is Radagun done? What are you doing in Florida Radagun-wise?
Aimee: We're definitely not done, the move was based primarily on Radagun.  We met up with some great musicians here, and we've been practicing and we're getting ready to add some east coast tour dates.

 

Did you guys grow up in Fresno?
Aimee: I grew up in Hanford, Todd grew up in Orange County, but both of us have lived in Fresno for the past few years, we definitely consider the Central Valley our home.

 

What Fresno bands should we be paying more attention to?
Aimee: Shiver Fox, it's a new project with Trey Tosh, who's amazing, Kyle Baker, the guitarist from Todd's previous band, Flight 409, and John Bell, who played bass for us for a while.  Also Dash Wolf Dash, which was started by two of our previous lead guitar players, Jeff Simpson and Shawn Stephens, who are both incredible musicians, so no doubt they'll be doing some pretty cool things as well.
   

What are you going to miss about Fresno (outside of family and friends)?
Aimee: Win-Co definitely.  There's no 24 hour stores around here and we're not really into going out in public during "normal" hours.  Also dry heat, I miss that a lot.  I'm not really digging being stinky ten seconds after stepping outside.  Also that there are no alligators in Fresno, I haven't seen an alligator, and there's no real reason for me to fear them where we live, but you know, we're in Florida, and based on all the movies I saw growing up, I can't help but be a little nervous when I take the trash out.

Yes! A Win-Co reference - first ever. And also, you may have caught there that Flight 409 is no longer a band, which sucks.

This blog would like to wish good luck to Radagun, don't forget us Valley Folk once you're all big and junk.

Radagun video "Runaway" after the jump:

Music Box Fresno: It's picture day, kids!

Maybe it's weird but we think you should know what some of your Fresno area musicians look like. I mean, if you see one in Save Mart, you should at least get the same reaction as when you see Kopi...or maybe that person you can't place where you know them from. (Hint: they're the one-night stand from a year ago.)

Anyways, let's get a photo sampling...

Todd Low and Aimee Ortiz of Radagun:

 

Music Box Fresno: Local musicans are a bunch of Tweets

Fresno bands might be having a harder time getting updates to people since so many folks have dropped MySpace in favor of Facebook. But, all is not lost in the show promoting department because some local musicians have discovered the alternative to Myspace bulletins: Twitter.

Here are a few we found to be tweeting:

• Super Lucky Catz
• HateFX
• Potrait of the Artist
• Down Word
• Fashawn
• JJ Brown
• The Aircrash
• Armen Nalbandian
• Kat Jones
• Timmy T

Yes, you saw it, even Timmy T is on Twitter, mutha fucka! Man, I can't believe this, even the T Dog found it? Who's next, your old creepy uncle's cover band?

*If you know of some more local musicians on Twitter, leave a comment or email us: mike@thefresnan.com

Music Box Fresno: Kat Jones at KFSR

Did you miss former Fresnan now current Nashvillian, Kat Jones, playing at Kuppajoe's on Friday night? Yep, so did we. Good thing KFSR taped her in studio appearance, so we could, at least, get a taste...

Music Box Fresno: New Video Release Day?

Tuesday is traditionally the day new CDs and DVDs get released and, apparently, it's also a day to release new videos from Fresno bands.

First up, the Fay Wrays (playing at Merced's the Partisan) with their new bass player, Paul Albert Harper. The Fay Wrays will be playing Chinatown Youth Center tonight with Sleepover Disaster and The Slowdown.


*The video's audio was edited with some sorta 'time warping' method.

Videos by two more Fresno bands after the break.

Music Box Fresno: Drummer Shortage Grips The City

Hey. You. Stop trying to play the guitar!

Every douche in town plays the guitar. That's all there is, shitty guitarist and bass players that gave up the guitar. That's why there is a serious drummer shortage in Fresno. Just ask Fresno's The Aircrash:

I'm tellin' ya, Guitar Guy, take up the drums if you want to get work...not that great for chicks, but you'll get work.

Music Box Fresno: Rademacher Gets a Nice BlurbJob

One of the web's biggest music sites is Pitchfork (damn that's a cool name) and Fresno's Kings of Indierock, Rademacher, just got themselves blurbed on the site. The blub is within a review of a compilation disc Rademacher was a part of.

Yeah, but, what does this mean for you? Not a damn thing. Unless you're in Rademacher, then good for you! Pretty awesome being on Pitchfork. Buy yourself a beer. No, but seriously it's cool. Check out the review [bottom of second paragraph].

Music Box Fresno: Seattle to Portland - Rademacher Style

You may have read about Fresno's Rademacher being out on tour with Airborne Toxic Event and Henry Clay People - a sold-out one, btw. Well there's some more reading to do as Rad's leader, Malcolm Sosa, is writing a tour diary.

Today, Rademacher traveled from Seattle to Portland and wrote about visiting a cool record store in Seattle, the compeitive Portland music scene and how nice it will be to finally play a packed Portland show.

It's a great entry and it's nice to see Malcom updating his Hot Mess Magic blog again.

Music Box Fresno: Still The Same Shape

A couple years back, The Same Shape, may have been Fresno's hottest band. Then they took a break or hiatus or something, and it looked bleak. It's okay though, because they're back and hopefully the packed show they played at Veni Vidi Vici's on Saturday night means they've got some momentum. Or it could just mean Veni's is always packed on Saturdays.

Let's enjoy some Same Shape and keep the alleged momentum going:

Obvious Solutions

Music Box Fresno: Rademacher Releases a tribute to... well, themselves

For those of you that have never completed your Rademacher EP collection (so like all of us then), here is the cheap-fan way out. It's a new compilation CD of Rademacher's first four EP's called RIP GARDENSIDE. You can find some more information about it, along with purchasing it, by clicking here. Enjoy. Tracklist for the nerds:

1) Yr Never Gonna Hear From Me
2) I've Rearranged Everything
3) It Really Shouldn't Matter
4) MAGIC MTN PKWY
5) Playing for Fun
6) They Are Always Into That
7) Careful With That
8) Robot Show
9) Need Nobody
10) Ice Age
11) Last Letter Writer
12) Argument
13) Believer
14) What the neighbors don't know
15) If U Know
16) Courtesy Call
17) What Happened To Your Friends
18) A Little Bit Of Both The Best